As we can see in ManpowerGroup's 2016-17 Talent Shortage Survey report, many countries are struggling to fill critical positions within their economies. Within the Americas region, 42% of employers reported difficulty filling jobs. Argentina is suffering the most acute talent shortage (59%) and Canada is experiencing the least difficulty (34%).

But although Canada may be seen has having less difficulty than other countries in the region, or around the world, Steven Cryne, president and CEO of the Canadian Employee Relocation Council, reveals that "over the next decade, Canada will have a shortage of about 2 million skilled workers, in a workforce of about 18 million people today. In British Columbia alone, a million-plus job openings are expected by 2019 and more than three-quarters of those will require post-secondary education."

His point is that Canada has an opportunity to design, implement and manage a flexible immigration policy with rules that facilitate and attract the movement of high-skilled talent into (and out of) Canada to give it an edge over other countries that are right now putting up barriers.

His final point:

"Today, talent is global. Companies need the flexibility to deploy it quickly and efficiently in order to increase productivity and drive innovation.

At a time when many regions in the world are turning away from global trade, and opposition to migration and foreign workers is on the rise, Canada is in a great position to improve its immigration programs and attract some of the much-needed top global talent to our shores."

For more quality education on Canadian immigration as it relates to competing on a global level for talent, try these:

Over the next decade, Canada will have a shortage of about two million skilled workers, in a work force of about 18 million people today. In British Columbia alone, a million-plus job openings are expected by 2019 and more than three-quarters of those will require postsecondary education.Immigration is but one of several policy options available to the government to cushion the impact of a growing skills shortage and an aging population. For that reason, Immigration Minister John McCallum is on the right track in announcing increased immigration targets of 300,000 for 2017, one of the most ambitious targets in more than a century.